The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-09-24

Ia New York for .Johu Swintot, for j5eI
has long been tIic only real or apparent
frcnchman in an American skin over
here. He has represented enough
carncstncss on the one hand. aud en-
ough bounce on the other. to make o.
decorate "A striking personality while
he has also satisfied demand for
comedy. as well as supplied an OK
ample of intensity. There will have
TO be day Of Judgment 10 settle
whether John Swinton's communism
Is red-hot conviction or form 81
cultivated cgolism, which has become
a freak on fanaticism. The matter
Is, however. not SO important Ms shss
fact that the old man was at any time
ready To die for his fad---if death could
be inflicted in properly dramatic
manner and, more's the pity. almost
starved for il.
For long months past he has lived ia
one room in "A tenement among the
slums. his food not costing 81 week
and not worth half that little; deplci-
ing himself in body that the paper
might go on; earning 500 bya maya
zine article ON something that he was
Indifferent about that he might issue
thoughts which he was tremendously
moved about. II will dine YOU for u
siNpcncc. but IL You want me 10 write
for YOU, my terms will be 500 column;
twill bring out my next issue he
would say. An income of over SIC. 900
u wear aud fortune which M least
five figures would bc needed 90 cN-
press. house. furniture, horses. wines.
clothes. last Of all the beloved books.
have gone 10 sustain an idea. and tho
idea was wind.
John Swintun had co stop. lie could
starve his stomach aud deny his mind
rs long as he could ret together
enough To pay the printer. but when
that failed lac ceased. No one suffered
loss hut himself The theories of the
man were visionary and destructive,
bat he was the safest conduit for them
there was. He would dcnouncc
property without being able 10 remove
the conviction of everybody that he
was the kindrst old man in the world.
He would roar like .Etna, but the birds
would not tiy away when lac passed by
them. He would emit lire and slaugh-
ter, but his wallet would be turned in
side out 10 the first bcggar He would
advocate communism aud practice IL
by loading up gamins with presents.
New York knew him rs a stage guam
tity, whose heart was as gentle rs
summer. The amount of verbal ycllc-
mcncc that had To bo got of sounded
in him like the demons tcnpins among
the mountains and sclntillatcd around
aud within him, like the lightning Of
July twilight; but tho noise was only
noise. aud the lightning struck moth
ing but his 'pockctbook. The old man
was 4 conservative force. discounted
thundcrbolt. and did not seem To
Know IL. lie came, as he thought.
unto his own and they received him
not They unto whom he east pearls
turned and rcndcd him. lie viii find
harbor whence he went forth 10 raise
storm and encounter slipwreck.
What were YOU doing that after
noon on that corncr?" asked Mr.. Fuller
ton Of him when witness on tho
Bccchcr trial.
''Musing on the infinite" was the
answer that came quick as flash.
straight as rifle ball, and hard as u
rock. That cross-cxamination was not
continued.
did you ever taste that kind Of
wine before, Swinton" asked A, II.
Stewart OF him at dinner once in the
Twcnty-fourth street palace, as the
host dolcd out the least bit of rare
vintage.
"Ycs, twice; once with AntoincIli
and once with Bismarck, and both
times in larger glasses, was the reply.
IL was Swinton who grayely pro-
posed To discuss In Madison Square
garden, with William III. Vanderbilt.
the lattcr's right to his millions 10 tho
sheer CONSERVATION of that man, and
somewhat To his apprehension. II twas
Swinton against whom Depcw 'braccd
himself for debate at the Nineteenth
Century club, and IL was Swinton who
az that club spoke only such honcych
words Of the allowances which ought
To be made for rich men that Dcpews
prepared arguments were kicks against
nothing.
''He thought I'll show my teeth. but
my speech was "A sustained kiss"
chncklingly explained the old man.
The easemakcr was nowhere" lac
adds.
lie has learned that natural con-
ditions will not bend to aid poor on
rich; that ingrattudc Is plant that
can grow In the slnms as well as on
the avenue; that the confederation OF
forces, the conservation Of powers. the
union Of energy, skill, aud interests
that go by the name of corporations,
syndicatcs, companies. trusts. and tho
like are "a law OF the civilizature Of the
time; he has learned his lesson, but